2007_0925_CT_v62i2

Page 1

Contact us: (619) 388-3880 / citytimes@gmail.com

Read us online: www.sdcitytimes.com

Ocean Beach jazz fest celebrates 3 years

Broadcasting community mourns professor Fred Lewis

Arts, page 4

WHAT’S NEWS Known artists slated for book fair

News, page 3

CityTimes

Volume 62, Number 2

Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945

Presentation on origin of species stirs controversy

Luis Bahena City Times With its first year a success, City College hosts its second annual San Diego City College International Book Fair on Oct. 5 and 6. The book fair was introduced last year, drawing approximately 2,500 people. Initially inspired by the Miami Dade International Book Fair, it was City College President Terrance Burgess who pushed for the idea. More than a year in planning, this year’s book fair is filled with a plethora of booksellers, vendors, writers, artist, performers and food. City College will host famous authors such as Quincy Troupe, named the first official Poet Laureate of the state of California, and Denise Chavez, who will give a special workshop for Puente students in the district. Other authors attending the event include Amiri Baraka, Oakley Hall, Rebecca Solnit, Daniel Reveles, David Bacon, Mel Freilicher, Adrian Arancibia and San Diego State University photography teacher Kim Stringfellow. Music will also be a part of the book fair with presentations from cellist Zoë Keating, who has accompanied Grammy-nominated artist Imogen Heap, and jazz musicians The Gilbert Castellanos Quartet with special guest Charles McPherson. According to the book fair’s Web site, the event’s primary goal is to promote local writers and booksellers, as well as to reach out to international artists and authors. The book fair will be held in the Saville Theatre on Oct. 5 and 6. Admission is free. For more information, visit the book fair’s Web site at www. sdcitybookfair.com.

INDEX Calendar..................................... 2 News..........................................3 Arts............................................4 Opinion.......................................6 Sports........................................8

September 25, 2007

Debate transformed into lecture following a wave of protest Alissa Wisniewski City Times

NOE ROJAS Contributor

City attorney speaks San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre lectures on “The Right to Participate in Government under the California Constitution” Sept. 17 in San Diego City College’s Saville Theatre. Aguirre spoke as part of Constitution Week, sponsored by City’s history and political science departments.

The Big Bang. There has been a timeless controversy over what – or who – set it in motion. Now that controversy has exploded at San Diego City College. On Sept. 19 in the Seville Theatre, Dr. E.C. Ashby lectured about creationism and evolutionism, two seemingly contradictory theories he ties together with grace. Even a zealous evolutionist might be tempted by his confident demeanor. Originally a debate, the event was transformed into a lecture series following a wave of protest. Ashby is a chemistry professor and devout Christian while his opponent would have been Pastor Barry Minkow, a senior pastor at the San Diego Community Bible Church and a fellow Christian. The event was sponsored by the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. On the initial world cultures event calendar, Ashby’s religious affiliation was omitted and IVCF’s title was shortened to InterVarsity. Described in this way, students could interpret the debate as an impartial portrayal of the issue. Saturated with Christian influence, the debate had the potential to be misleading to students who were looking for unbiased discussion on the topic, critics

See Debate, page 2

Cost Reduction Act awaiting Bush approval Whitney Lawrence City Times The College Cost Reduction Act, passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on Sept. 7, calls for an increase in Pell Grant scholarship awards, reduction of student loan interest rates, and a simplified college financial aid process. The act is now pending presidential approval and if passed will take immediate affect on college students across the United States. “That’s my understanding,” said Gregory Sanchez, City College’s financial aid Director, “is that the President will sign it.

There were enough changes in it to meet his approval.” After Congress presented the bill to the president on Sept. 20, Congressman George Miller of California, who sponsored the bill, stated with confidence during a teleconference that “the bill will be passed in the next few days.” An increase in Pell Grant awards is among the top priorities of the act. According to the U.S. Department of Education, college students are awarded Pell Grants based on their Estimated Family Contribution, or EFC, and are not required to pay them back. The proposed bill will raise the maximum Pell Grant award from

$4,310 to $4,800 in the 2008-09 school year and peak at $5,400 by 2013. “It’s huge,” Sanchez said of the bill. “I’m pleased with the increase. The more Pell Grants (students) can get the fewer loans they have to borrow. It’s a real benefit.” Another asset to the College Cost Reduction Act is called Tuition Sensitivity. San Diego City College students pay $20 per unit, among the lowest in the nation for college tuition. One drawback to the low fees is that City College students are not getting the maximum Pell Grant awards. With Tuition Sensitivity, the government will no longer

use tuition cost as a factor, giving City College students the best of both worlds — low tuition and high scholarship awards. Upon approval, Sanchez says the College Cost Reduction Act will have immediate effect on City College students, as well as college students around the country. Since the bill is retroactive to July 1, students who are eligible to more money under the Cost Reduction Act will receive the difference at a later date yet to be determined. The bill also states that student loan interest rates will be

See ACT, page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
2007_0925_CT_v62i2 by City Times Media - Issuu